In signing up Hollywood actress Ashley Judd to speak at a fundraiser for the Fort Bend Women's Center, organizers hope not only to boost their coffers to provide more services but also to raise awareness about the center on its 35th anniversary.

Judd, well-known for advocacy for women's issues, is the keynote speaker at the Oct. 1 fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. at the Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane. As of presstime, about 30 tickets remained at $200 apiece.

What started out as a local crisis hot line to provide emergency counseling and referrals for women in abusive relationships or for victims of sexual assault quickly morphed into physical refuge.

Founders Pat Altman, a Rosenberg attorney; Timothy Sloane, an assistant district attorney; and Paulette Green, a Rosenberg businesswoman, realized a proper place was needed for women to stay when they were in danger.

A grassroots fundraising campaign elicited broad support locally, as well as large donations from United Way and a county judge, for a residence, initially called Fort Bend County Women's Refuge.

"We came along at a time when the public was aware of a problem like this and glad someone was willing to take it on," Altman said.

A name change came as the agency expanded its services.

A successful capital campaign in 2000 paved the way for a new shelter, which opened in 2001. The facility accommodates up to 65 people, primarily women and children.

"We take each individual family and help them figure out how to become self-sufficient," executive director Vita Goodell said. "In some cases, they need a lot of help."

Goodell said the group also gears much of its resident services to kids, providing everything from age-appropriate areas to play, do homework and relax to summer camps and substance-abuse counseling.

"It's very important to get kids out of abusive relationships because they are most likely to be abused," Goodell said. "It's a very toxic environment, and kids learn the behaviors - girls learn to expect that, and often boys learn to be abusers."

Goodell said the group is exploring the possibility of building apartments to house clients after they leave the shelter. She said having their own apartment building would reduce the amount of time clients stay at the center - currently, 68 days on average.

She said the main reason for the longer stay is that affordable apartments are hard to find and often have restrictions.